Process of making acetyl-cellulose plastic compounds.



1' b all whom it may concern:

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WILLIAM G. LINDSAY, OF. CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO T1311- CELLULOID COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY PROCESS OF MAKING ACETYL-CELLULOSE PLASTIC COMPOUNDS.

Specification of Letters Patent. P tent d May 1L5, 191?,

No Drawing. Original application filed May 23, 1912, Serial No. 699,237. Divided and this application filed July 10, 1915. Serial No. 39,192.'

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM G. LINDSAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Caldwell, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Makin Acetyl-Cellulose Plastic Compounds, which the following is apspecification.

The various compositions to which. the present invention relates are employed in the arts, sometimes as imitations of natural substances, and sometimes as films which.

' are used for photographic purposes, whether as the base upon which the sensitive coating is superimposed or as a component part of. the film with which the sensitized substance.

has been partiallyincorporated in the sensi-- tization. Although the final or useful form of the difierent compounds of'acetyl cellulose is that of a solid or dry material, the difierent processes of conversion into this final solid form involve, as is well understood, the employment of solutions and mixtures of varying consistencies as to elasticity, stifiness or fluidity, depending generally upon the proportion or kind of solvent used to the amount of the original baseacetyl cellulose, this being a division from my application Serial No. 699,237 filed May 23, 1912. J

In the treatment of acetyl cellulose for the production of solutions for the manufacture of lacquers, varnishes, photographic filins, and flexible or plastic compounds, I have discovered that'while it is well. known 'that epichlorhydrin isa solventfor acetyl cellulose and that the variety which is freely soluble in acetone dissolves freely in this liquid, there are certain objections to its use in the manufacture of acetyl cellulose plastic compounds due mainly to the rather high boiling point and the peculiar action of this solvent under manipulation.

I have found, however, that epichlorhydrin not-only does not lose in its solvent action upon dilution with either-ethyl or methyl alcohol but that such dilution. or admixture results in a volatile product having increased solvent action and possessing certain characteristics of great value in the manufacture of acetyl cellulose plastic compounds. 7

One example of carrying out my invention is as follows: I add to 100 parts of acetyl cellulose of the variety described from 20 to 50.parts of paraethyltoluolsulfonamid and from 10 to 30 parts of triphenylphosphate and make a mechanical mixture by stirring. I then add to this mass 70 parts, by'weight, of a mixture composed of equal volumes of epichlorhydrin and either methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol or a mixture of the two alcohols. The mass thus produced is made into a uniform mixture by means of a mal'axator or other suitable mixing device, and after thorough mixing the excess of solvent is allowed to evaporate, preferably during further mixing, and 'the dough-like mass thus produced is then further worked up according to the well-known method of manufacturing nitro cellulose camphor' compounds.

I have also found that the COIIIbIIIatIOIT of epichlorhydrin and methyl alcohol is also useful 'inpreparing lacquers, varnishes, and films from acetyl cellulose of the variety described. In this case the quantity of vol-v atile solvents in proportion to the. acetyl cellulose is increased so as to make a more fluid mixture, and then upon spreading the I solution upon a smooth surface such as -which will be of use to him in the particular case in which they are adapted for his purpose.

By paraethyltoluolsulfonamld, I mean the toluolsulfonamid; adding to this mixture at comphund having the following structural the. same being analkylated aromatic sul- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I -,1. The process ,of making plast1c compounds from that variety of acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone that consists inmixing acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone with paraethyltoluolsulfonamid; adding to this mixture a solvent composed of equal volumes of episolvent composed of equal volumes of epichlorhydrin and methyl alcohol, substantially as set forth.

3. The process of making plastic compounds from that variety of acetyl cellulose 'which is freely soluble in'acetone that consists in mixing acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone with paraethyltoluolsulfonamid and triphenylphosphate; -adding to thismixture a solvent composed of equal volumes of epichlorhydrin and a monohydric alcohol havin two carbon-atoms, substantially as set forth.

4. The process of making plastic compounds from that variety of acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone that consists 1n mixing acetyl cellulose whihh is freely soluble in acetone with paraethylnot more than toluolsulfonamid and triphenylphosphate; adding to this mixture a solvent composed of equal volumes of epichlorhydrin and methyl alcohol, substantially as set forth.

5. The process of making plastic compounds from that variety of-acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone that consists in mixing acetyl cellulose which 'is freely soluble in acetone with an alkylated aromatic 'sulfonamid; adding to this mixture epichlorhydrin and at least one of the following alcohols :ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, substantially asset forth. v

6. The process of making plastic compounds from that variety of acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone that consists in mixing acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone with an alkylated aromatic sulfonamid; adding to this mixture epichlorhydrin and methyl alcohol, substantially as set forth. v

7. The process ofmaking plastic compounds from that variety of acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone that consists in mixing acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone with an 'alkylated aromatic sulfonamid and triphenylphosphate; adding to thismixture epichlorhy drin and at least one of the following alcohols ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, substantially as set forth. V

8. The process of making plastic compounds from that variety of acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone that consists in mixing acetyl cellulose which is freely soluble in acetone with analkylated aromatic sulfonamid and triphenylphosphate; adding to this. mixture epichlorhydrin andmethyl alcohol, substantially'as set forth. I

WILLIAM (Er/LINDSAY.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 

